My Sojourn - England & Scotland

Today is Tuesday September 22, 2009.  I have just returned from a 1200 mile trip north through England and Scotland.

For those of you who might not know I was selected as a C.S. Lewis Visiting Scholar.  I have been living in his home called the Kilns with the express purpose of finishing my book.  I finally completed my book entitled Heart Surgery:  Becoming A Man After God's Heart--12 chapters, 98,000 words, 3 appendices, over 460 footnotes, an acknowledgements page, a preface, and an introduction.  Sealy Yates, a literary agent, is looking at it now to determine if he will represent it to interested publishers.  If not I will self publish it.

To celebrate I took a car tour through northern England and Scotland.  I visited amazing historical places.

Canterbury Cathedral is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  In Canterbury Cathedral, Sir Thomas Becket was murdered.  Henry the VIII destroyed his shrine and removed his skull crown lopped off during the his murder by four knights. 

It is also the home of the Black Prince, a devout follower of Christ and a brave and courageous warrior on the battlefield.  His tomb rests near where Becket's shrine stood until the shrine was dismantled.

I travelled to Cambridge to visit Cambridge University.  Once again, the curse struck.  A student hit my car while at a stop leaving scrathes on the bumper.  Cambridge University was established in 1209 AD and is comprised of 31 colleges:  St. Johns, St. Catherines, Kings College, Christ's College, and Trinity College to name a few.  If I were younger I would persue a degree at either Oxford or Cambridge.

I travelled to Golden Valley featured in the film Shadowlands, a movie about the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham who became his wife.  I am currnetly staying in the Kilns, C.S. Lewis' home in Headington England.

I drove north to Hadrian's Wall erected in 122 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian as the northern boundary of England--76 miles lone from east to west.  I stood on the wall.  What a thrill.  I then visited the Roman Army Museum.  Once Rome conquered Britian in 46 AD it held the island for 400 years.

I drove further north into Scotland to Edinburgh where I visited Edinburgh Castle which was conquered 16 times in its history.  The castle is an amazing feat of construction high on a hill.

I then dove still further north to Stirling where I visited the William Wallace Monument, an imposing structure high on a hill.  It houses the sword of William Wallace, hero of Scotland.  The movie Braveheart was made of his life.  To get to the top of the monument you must climb 246 stairs.  They say Wallace had to be at least 6' 6" to wield a sword of this size in battle.  He is the hero of Scotland born approximately 1272 and executed August 23, 1305.  His short 33 years of life has left a permanent legacy of courage, discipline, and valor. 

I then visited Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace's greatest victory at the Battle of Stiring Bridge against the superior army of King Edward I of England.  This was followed by a stunning defeat of Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk less then a year later.  Seven years later, 1305, he was finally captured and executed by hanging, evisceration, and decapitation followed by quartering - a terrible way to die.  His values were liberty at all costs, devotion to his country, disciplined endurance.  His courage lit the fire of freedom across Scotland leading to their independence from England in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 by Robert the Bruce.

I completed my tour by visiting Stirling Castle.  The castle is called the "broach" that connects the lowlands to the highlands of Scotland.

Then back home to Headington England and the Kilns.  What an amazing and inspiring trip.  I am all toured out.  Wish you could have been with me to enjoy what I saw and will never forget.

Take a look at additional pictures located to the right of this blog.

Comments

[Greg Bourgond]

Thanks Dan - I admit I am pleased to have finally completed it. Now it's in the hands of a literary agent. If he chooses not to go with it. I will self-publish it.

Greg

[Dan Hay]

Greg,

I'm ecstatic to hear that you've completed your book. Praise God for the inspiration, knowledge and leadership he has given you for the journey that has led you to complete it.

Dan

[Ron Harter]

Congrads on finishing your book, and we all look foward to your return. Isn't Mel Gibson about 5'6" He must have used the "mini me" sword Any way have a safe trip home.